COKATO, MN  Local quilters are bringing warmth and comfort to those in need during the Christmas season and throughout the year.

In this season of giving, Mary Ackerman of Cokato has been busy sewing fleece quilts for children who may need a little extra warmth and comfort.

Ackerman is an original member of the Sew Friendly Quilt Guild, which meets the second Monday of the month at First Baptist Church in Cokato.

This past fall, Ackerman decided to put to use of a variety of small fleece fabric samples she received to make children’s blankets and donate them to Common Cup Ministry in Hutchinson.

Common Cup Ministry supports a number of agencies including McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence, The Hope Center, The Salvation Army, and more.

Ackerman has been sewing the small samples together, which is not an easy task, she said, since fleece stretches, making it that much more difficult.

“It’s not as much fun to sew . . . but [fleece is] warm, colorful and feels good,” she said.

Since she started the project this fall, Ackerman has made six blankets, with each blanket taking about 10 to 12 hours.

Because the squares were leftover market samples, Ackerman made use of them even though they didn’t all quite match the way she would’ve liked.

“It doesn’t matter if they go together when they are warm and cozy and someone needs a little cuddle,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman dropped off the blankets last week, just in time for Christmas.

The Mission Guild, a group of quilters at First Baptist Church of Cokato, also make quilts throughout the year and donate them to various organizations like the McLeod Alliance for Domestic Violence and other shelters.

The group of quilters also give quilts to the new babies at church, the veterans hospitals, fire victims, and flood victims.

Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church’s WELCA group has made 250 quilts in 2010. They too, donate to the Common Cup Ministry in Hutchinson.

Quilts are also donated to Cokato Manor residents, the Salvation Army, Lutheran World, and Bridging, a Minnesota non-profit that provides household goods to the economically disadvantaged.